Object Record

Object Name

Bowl, Finger

Common Name

Set, Tableware

Catalog Number

IL1923.40.33

Maker

J.E. Caldwell & Co.

Date

1900

Material(s)

Silver/Metal

Dimensions

H-2.25 Dia-5 inches

Description

This round silver bowl has relief leaf decoration around the outside of the rim. On the front of the bowl is a seal of Commonwealth of Kentucky surrounded by tobacco, corn and wheat. On the bottom is "Battleship / Kentucky" at center and a maker's mark "J.E. CALDWELL & CO. / 926 / STERLING / 1000 / PHILDELPHIA."

Notes

The people of Kentucky raised $30,000 to present a silver set to the USS Kentucky (BB-6). The Kearsage class battleship was commissioned on May 15, 1900 and decommissioned on August 28, 1909. The set was loaned to the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) in 1921 by the United States secretary of the Navy. The intention was that KHS would care for the silver until a new ship was named "Kentucky." Near the end of World War II construction on an Iowa class battleship to be named "Kentucky," was started. With the end of the war it was never completed and after several delays and design changes was sold for scrap in 1958. The submarine SSBN-737 was christened "Kentucky" in 1990. Several of the pieces of the silver tableware set were sent to USS Kentucky SSBN-737. The rest have remained on loan to KHS from the U.S. Navy.

Because this piece is on loan to KHS any photograph requests must receive the approval of the lender.